Accountability reports highlight PRSD meeting
Prairie Rose School Division trustees, at their June 12 meeting, heard the results of the accountability pillar summary that is part of their three-year plan.
Superintendent Roger Clarke informed the trustees that while some of the data is current, some of the information has yet to be updated. The results highlight an accountability survey that was completed earlier this year, as well as results from the January diploma exams.
Clarke included a chart indicating the results, noting that some of the information has not yet been updated and was bases on a three-year graduation rate.
PRSD scored very high or high in 11 of the 16 categories, including Safe and Caring, Program of Studies, Education Quality, Citizenship, Parental Involvement, School Improvement, High School Completion rates, Transition Rates, Diploma Acceptable, Drop Out, and Work Prep.
Prairie Rose stood above the provincial average in many of the categories. In the Safe and Caring category, for example, PRSD shows a 92.2 result for the current year, while the provincial average for the same time period is 89.0.
The three-year high school completion rate for Prairie Rose is 80.9, with the province being 78.0.
Discrepancies in the numbers can arise however, with students taking longer to finish high school.
"It can take kids three, four, five years to graduate for a variety of reasons," said chair Stuart Angle.
Also discussed was programming and having programs in place for students who don't excel with traditional learning.
"We are trying to appeal to the students who may not appeal to traditional learning," said Clarke, adding that some students are also looking for specific programming.
"Now, students are making program decisions, not necessarily academic decisions. Our goal is to provide well-rounded programming for our kids across Prairie Rose," said Clarke.
Angle agreed.
"We need flexibility in our programs," he said. Clarke also told trustees that the diploma participation rate had dropped significantly and a review will be conducted to determine the reason. An increase in outreach students who may not be taking four or more diploma exams may have affected the result.
Still, Clarke is pleased with the results of the accountability pillar summary.
"The overall results for Prairie Rose remains strong," he said. "More kids are graduating now than ever before."
Health and Safety/Operations coordinator Janine Tolhurst who oversees the occupational health and safety program for PRSD also provided an accountability report to trustees.
Part of her role is to coordinate and conduct inspections at all schools and work sites within the division, as well as provide support in hazard management and incident investigation.
As part of a provincial initiative, Tolhurst has compiled student absenteeism data to be shared with public health officials in detecting and tracking infectious diseases and responding to public health emergencies.
Over the course of the school year, she has conducted annual general safety inspections at all PRSD schools, colony schools and work sites.
Tolhurst told trustees that she works closely with Town of Redcliff, Cypress County, County of Forty Mile, Special Areas, and Provincial Fire Marshalls to ensure all schools are in compliance with fire regulations.
Training staff also plays a major role in her duties. Over the past year, first aid training was provided to 66 staff members and non-violent crisis intervention training to 83 staff members.
Information is collected on all work related and nonwork related incidents reported by schools and worksites. Tolhurst said in her report that there have been improvements in reporting incidents and in the timeliness of the reports.
"The Division continues to maintain industry leadership with injury rates 25.78% lower than industry average, resulting in a 12.89% WCB premium discount for 2018."
Emergency response planning (Hour Zero) includes training, drills, digital mapping, crisis communications, and storing, updating, and monitoring of division, school, and department emergency preparedness and response times.
Some of the schools have been doing very well at completing their Hour Zero plans. The Hutterian Brethren Church School of Elkwater, Jenner Colony School, and Parkside School all having their plans finished.